Sorry for
the wee lapse in the flow of nuggety words, truth is I’ve been out training the
house down in four seasons here in Germany. You see, just like Tim Don or Jan
Frodeno suggested in their Specialized videos, I also do 15 hour training days
for breakfast, then start my hard sessions.
Really
though, the title to this yarn is a little misleading as it hasn’t been too
long since my last drink, in fact there is a Pfungstader Radler beside me as I
write this. As I’m sure you’re aware, ‘bier’ is a big deal in Germany and just
as in New Zealand, exactly what brew you’re drinking is rather important.
Because of this, so not to offend anyone, before the Pfungstader I had a
Darmstadter, naturally.
Enough of
the beer though, the second most important reason I’m in Europe is triathlon
and despite thunder and lightning raining heavily on the parade, the DSW
Darmstadt boys and I managed to get in a quick race yesterday. It was home
track for us and after a team ‘win or death’ pep talk from a nervous trainer we
were into it. I got the choke just right and dropped the clutch for a good
start, but second gear was bloody hard to find in the fighting mass of
neoprene. Once I got it though I was head down arse up into it and hit the sand
third, managing to mount my steed first.
This used
to cue the start of the hardest part of the race for me, but with Tim and I
coming up with a few breathing-out-your-arse style swim-bike sessions I’m a
changed man. It was hammer down before I looked back to see daylight, well a
dingy, shitty, rainy attempt at daylight. I sat up and took a highly refreshing
drink from my fluid sponsor - it really works for me and I find it means I
hold, on average, 32.8 watts more for a sprint race. It has the perfect
carbohydrate, electrolyte, protein, pH balance and the flavour doesn’t upset my
stomach. Water. Plug done, I’d love to say when the first guy rode up to me we
attacked and stayed away, but we didn’t. We had a go but, boring story short, I
think almost the entire race came off the bike together for a dangerously
slippery, muddy transition. Up to my tits in mud trying to keep me and my
two-wheeler upright, I felt like I was racing cyclo-cross!
Chuffed to
get through transition I had the goal of trying to emulate a Brownlee, I don’t
really care which one, actually scratch that, I was trying to be the ‘Super
Brownlee’. Within the first 100m I’d already failed as I’m sure I’d blown out
to 2.50 pace, but pushed on regardless. Initially I was dodging the lake-like
puddles on course, but then I started to enjoy myself and went for it kiwi
style up the guts. Oh, the little things eh! Just as the weather started to
clear, I splashed down the carpet to break my first race tape in Europe. Great
place to do it in my home away from home and the team got the job done to come
out on top overall too. Like Borat says, “great success!”
Thanks to my sponsors, namely, 229 Heinrichstrauss and everyone at the DSW club, I can’t thank you enough for all your hospitality and help. It’s onwards and upwards for me, a week hosting the legend himself, Mr Dylan McNiece ladies and gentlemen. Will be good to hear a kiwi accent and get back to the meat and veg 15 hour training days to get ready for the next Bundesliga, Schliersee, in two weeks. Ohhhh yeeeeaaah!
Say hi to
your mum for me.
Nugget.
